"Of course it's important for me to be the top scorer, because I want to be Africa's Footballer of the Year," he told the Bundesliga website having finished runner-up in 2014. "I definitely want to win the award this year and I try to score in every game."

The 26-year-old has already scored 17 goals in 14 league games this season for Dortmund, and the Gabon captain is among the 37 players nominated for the African Footballer of the Year award. Having hit 25 goals in all competitions this season, he is among the favourites to succeed current holder Yaya Toure.

Having scored 13 then 16 goals in his first two seasons with Dortmund, Aubameyang has already bettered both tallies this campaign with less than half a season played, and he scored twice on Sunday in a 4-1 win against Stuttgart. Having made a bet with Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel that he would score 20 goals this campaign, Aubameyang is just short of winning the wager.

"Three more goals and we can make a new bet," said Aubameyang with Dortmund facing three more league games -- against Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Cologne - before the winter break.